The Young Colonists A Story of the Zulu and Boer Wars

by G.A. Henty

An adventure of Dick Humphries whose family lives in Natal. He participates in British defeats and victories during the Zulu war and then becomes involved in the First Boer War.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Classics

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1885

About the author

George Alfred Henty, better known as G.A. Henty, began his storytelling career with his own children. After dinner, he would spend and hour or two in telling them a story that would continue the next day. Some stories took weeks! A friend was present one day and watched the spell-bound reaction of his children suggesting Henty write down his stories so others could enjoy them. He did. Henty wrote approximately 144 books in addition to stories for magazines and was known as "The Prince of Story-Tellers" and "The Boy's Own Historian." One of Mr. Henty's secretaries reported that he would quickly pace back and forth in his study dictating stories as fast as the secretary could record them.

Henty's stories revolve around fictional boy heroes during fascinating periods of history. His heroes are diligent, intelligent, and dedicated to their country and cause in the face, at times, of great peril... Henty's heroes fight wars, sail the seas, discover land, conquer evil empires, prospect for gold, and a host of other exciting adventures. Along the way, they meet famous personages... In short, Henty's heroes live through tumultuous historic eras meeting leaders of that time. Understanding the culture of the time period becomes second nature as well as comparing/contrasting the society of various cultures.

Reviews

[Katja Labonté · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars & 3/10 hearts. This book was interesting and I liked it. I found the historical part rather prominent, but I enjoyed the trading voyage and the humour and the thought-provoking historical incidents. It wasn’t my favourite Henty, but I liked it.

A Favourite Quote: “Mr G.B. Hall, one of the mounted volunteers, gallantly tried to cross their line to warn his comrades of the coming danger. Galloping in front of the Boers, his horse was shot under him; taking shelter behind it, he opened fire on the enemy, and so attracted the attention of his party. One man could not long resist 300, and Hall was soon killed. The alarm, however, had been given in time[.]”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘I think,’ Tom said, ‘that I will go and have a bathe in the pool.’
“‘You will do no such thing,’ Mr Harvey remarked; ‘the chances are that there are half a dozen alligators in that pool[.]’”

[Yigal Zur · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting for understanding history of south africa.

[Viva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young adult historical fiction of the Zulu and Boer Wars through the eyes of a 19th century author. Some of the words and thoughts are definitely not acceptable for polite society today but this book is somewhat of a time capsule. When you read it you are transported back to the late 1800's. Spoilers ahead.

The book starts off with a short side plot where the protagonist, a boy named Dick is caught out in a snow storm with his best friend (Tom) and brother. His pluck and quick thinking saves their lives when he builds a make-shift shelter to wait out the storm.

Next his family emigrates to South Africa due to his mother's health condition. Dick is really the main character and everyone in the book basically is used to set him up or assist him. Once in SA his father sets up a tree farm. One day a trader shows up and Dick and Tom accompany him to the interior where they face friendly and hostile natives and a flash flood.

When the Zulu War starts, his father rents out wagons for the British army to use and he follows along as a narrator of the events. He is present during the massacre of Isandlwana, where he and Tom watch the whole thing hidden up on a hill. He is also present during the events of the early Boer War where basically the Brits give in. (I'm not sure if the book was written when the Brits eventually won.)

Anyway, it mostly follows the GA Henty formula where we see the events of history from the eyes of a young British teen. As a reader, I'm mostly interested in the adventures of the protagonist and not so much that of history as I'm not here to read a history book but it's definitely interesting to see living history being written close to the time when it occurred with all the associated attitudes of the time.

[Gabriella · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, I’m not really sure how to review this book. I found it good even though it had a loooottt of historical references written in a very Henty style that kind of took over the story line sometimes. I guess I didn’t enjoy the uncalled for way he spoke of the Boers, as I am one myself and had direct family killed by the English in the concentration camps in South Africa. While the Boers weren’t necessarily perfect, they were good people, and the English didn’t like them and slandered them for various reasons because of their own prejudice, not because of facts. He wrote it from a very English view which I think is very biased, but other than that it was pretty good.
I enjoyed the scenes of the veld that he painted with words, the humor, and the trading. Also, I enjoyed the hunting scenes, the everyday scenes, etc. It was well written.

[Colby Duckett · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Young Colonists is a very weird book. I thought it was kinda boring. It would be a good book if you like to read about other countries history about their wars. I thought the book was kinda confusing. I thought there was some stuff that should have been said so you would know why something was happening the way it was.

[Sophia · Rating 1 out of 5]

As an artifact of historical record it's interesting to see how Henty portrays British Imperialism and the colonizing attitudes of his times; as a modern reader it's truly just so much historical record slapped into a "children's" story coupled with an amazing amount of racism, which makes for a miserable story.

[Chris Boden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very WILBUR SMITH.

Best read for a long time.
Reminded me of the South Africa written about by WILBUR which I have many times in many years.